Researchers evaluated fragments from a meteorite that landed near Berlin on January 21, 2024. They determined the celestial body belonged to a rare asteroid class known as aubrite-type achondrites. The study was published on the official SETI Institute website, describing the discovery and its implications for planetary science.
The pieces analyzed originate from a small asteroid designated 2024 BX1. Electron beam microprobe analysis confirmed the distinctive mineralogical and chemical makeup of aubrite-type meteorites. This category is named after Aubres, a village in France, where a similar meteorite fell in 1836.
Experts note that it is challenging to identify shaved or unevenly shaped stones in the field, as they can resemble ordinary rocks at a casual glance.
One of the researchers, Christopher Hamann, explained that these rocks do not match the common image of meteorites. Shabbies resemble gray granite and are mainly composed of magnesium silicates, enstatite and forsterite. They contain very little iron, and their glassy outer crust appears markedly different from most related objects. As a result, spotting aubrite fragments on-site proves difficult for field investigators.
Scientists comment that aubrite meteorites are a rare sight on Earth. Less than 1% of meteorites that reach our planet belong to this type, underscoring the unusual nature of the Berlin event.
The Berlin-area fall was confirmed after a multi-day search effort to locate the meteorite fragments that exploded above the city, adding to the scientific interest surrounding this unusual visitor from space.